Hydrodynamic Study of a Fischer-Tropsch Bubble-Column Slurry Reactor

摘要

Hydrodynamic studies were performed to simulate a Fischer-Tropsch reactor in a Plexiglas column 5.08-cm ID and 183-cm tall. Hexane was used in a batch-liquid operation; nitrogen was sparged through a fritted stainless-steel disc. Bubble size was affected by axial position in the column and pore size of the gas sparger. Within experimental error, bubble size was not dependent on gas velocity. Gas holdup was expressed as a function of gas velocity by: epsilon/sub g/ = 0.0694 U/sub g/ exp 0 exp 976 . Four generalized correlations for predicting gas holdup were surveyed, but none were found to satisfactorily predict our data. However, data obtained from other Fischer-Tropsch systems were in good agreement with our experimental data. The presence of solids decreased gas holdup up to 50% for superficial gas velocities above 1.5 cm/s. At a gas velocity of 1.5 cm/s, the flow regime changed from bubbly flow to semiturbulent (swirling bubbly). (ERA citation 08:038588)